On May 29th, 2024, The Los Angeles Chargers decided to make the league alternating move to sign no other than former first-round selection, Alex Leatherwood. Okay, sarcasm aside, the Bolts recently picked up an all-time bust selection by division rival, Las Vegas Raiders. This pick-up came as a major surprise for every NFL fan, but especially Charger fans who felt that defense could be the next signing. Furthermore, out of all the available offensive linemen, you chose Leatherwood. So, all of this to say, does he have a chance to make the roster?
Chargers Sign One Of League’s All-Time Largest Busts
welcome aboard
we’ve signed T alex leatherwood → https://t.co/tBHkqVj3LS pic.twitter.com/sdtRqTeeFA
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 29, 2024
Alex Leatherwood’s Unfortunate Career
The Las Vegas Raiders made an all-time draft blunder back in 2021, continuing their long-standing lack of success in drafting players. With the 17th overall selection, they chose Alex Leatherwood. The former Alabama offensive tackle was not a hated prospect in the draft of 21′ just viewed as a late-day two type of player. When you reach that hard for a unanimous day two selection, the media is going to tear you and the player you selected to bits. That is exactly what happened.
Alex Leatherwood got on the field and started all 17 games in his rookie season, this is usually a pretty good sign that a first-round selection is going in a positive direction. He even played both guard and tackle, showing his versatility at the NFL level. Unfortunately, being on the field and being a contributor is two separate things. During the season, Leatherwood recorded 14 penalties, eight sacks allowed, and 65 pressures allowed.
Alex Leatherwood was a complete liability for the Raiders 2021 offense, so bad, that he was released after one season with the team. The Raiders did not even want to see what their first-round selection could do in year two and beyond. They were done. After his release from the poorly run Raiders, some NFL fans had some hope that he would be able to find a new home and develop there. He did find a new home in Chicago where he spent 2022 and played 32 snaps. He still gave up 5 pressures in 20 pass-blocking snaps. Not great. The Cleveland Browns eventually picked up Alex Leatherwood and stashed him on the practice squad for all of 2023.
What to Expect From the Signing
Fast forward to the present, the Chargers decided to sign Alex Leatherwood to their 90-man roster in hopes of bolstering this offensive line. He was announced as an offensive tackle signing, so this will likely mean that he will be the backup to Rashawn Slater or Joe Alt. He will be competing with the likes of Foster Sarell, and rookie UDFA linemen for the spot as the fourth tackle behind whoever loses the Trey Pipkins/Jamaree Salyer battle.
The case for Leatherwood to make the team and possibly make an impact is what is deemed as “Harbaugh University” to turn his career around. It was never doubted that the former Alabama product was not talented. It was just a matter of unneeded pressure and expectation of being selected in the first round. Leatherwood would not be looked at the same if he were to be drafted where he was initially supposed to go in the 2021 NFL Draft. All of this to say, if coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff cannot turn around Alex Leatherwood’s career, then it would be safe to say it is over.
Main Photo: [] – USA Today Sports
